VisVasc COVID-19 [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Visualising Vasculopathy in COVID-19
IRAS ID
286315
Contact name
Claire Rice
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN59449699
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
2020-4352, University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 3 days
Research summary
COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a coronavirus and, since it was first reported late in 2019, it has spread rapidly around the globe causing more than half a million deaths. Although the virus affects the lungs, those with pre-existing diabetes and heart disease are most at risk from serious complications. This is thought to be due to the effects of the virus on blood vessels making them sticky and leaky and so causing clots and haemorrhage.
Blood vessels are difficult to image and study. However, at the back of the eye, the blood vessels can be seen clearly and photographed using a specialised camera. This is done routinely in patients with diabetes to allow abnormalities in the vessels to be detected and treated before damage occurs to the patient’s sight.
We will use a specialised camera to photograph the blood vessels at the back of the eye in patients seen in hospital or the Emergency Department with COVID-19. We will monitor changes over a 4-week period and will compare these images with photographs which patients have had previously to determine the effects of COVID-19 on the blood vessels. We will relate these changes to the severity of the disease to determine if we can predict which patients will be most severely affected by COVID-19 and further understand the disease with the aim of predicting new and effective treatments for COVID-19.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0363
Date of REC Opinion
18 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion